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THURSDAY, JANUARY *4, 1866.
TERMS FOR 18GG.
By leave of Providence, we shall
neither reduce the size, Dor alter the
regular subscription price of our paper;
but we call the attention of subscribers
to the following financial arrangements.
1, Subscribers who desire to avail
themselves of our lowest terms, must
not wait for the call of collecting agents.
Paid agents will collect no bills, until
three months after date of said bills,
when the fifty cents additional will
invariably be charged. Remit to this
office by mail at our risk, or call upon
the agent, before the expiration of three
months.
2. It is difficult, in the present state
of the paper market, to procure the ma
terial necessary in making a distinction
in the wrappers, by which we proposed
to mark the paid and the unpaid .sub
scribers, receiving their papers by mail.
We shall carry out our purpose as soon
as practicable; meanwhile, bills will be
sent promptly at the commencement of
each subscriber’s year.
3. Home Missionaries will pay $2,
other ministers, and ministers’ widows,
$2 50, in advance. By carriers 50 cents
additional.
“OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.”
Readers will observe that we have
come back to the old designation of our
Correspondent in Rochester. This is
not because of any material change in
our relations, uniformly so pleasant and
profitable, but because, under the desig
nation of Corresponding Editor, he has
been more or less annoyed with purely
business communications which should
have found their way directly to this
office. He will still, as heretofore, sup
ply us from his well filled budget of
Central and Western New York news.
Interesting Church Dedication—
We find in the Christian Herald the.
account of the dedication of a new church
edifice, erected for the German Presby
terian Church in that city, of which
Rev. G. W. Winner is pastor. The dedi
catory services, Bermon included, were
in German, several clergymen participat
ing. In the evening there were services
in English, 'Mr. Phillips, the western
prince of song, conducting siDging.
The cost of the house is $9,000, about
$3,000 of which is yet to be raised. The
enterprise of clearing this off, was com
mitted to a thorough-going outside Com
mittee.
In connection with this, it may be
stated that our own city presents, at this
moment, a fine German field for our
Church. There is here a considerable
company of German-speaking Christians,
who express a desire for religious insti
tutions in our connection.
The Great Congregational Effort.
—The returns from simultaneous col
lection on Sabbath, the 17th ult., are
coming in. It will be recollected that
the National Council adopted this mode
for raising a fund for Congregational
church extension, marking $200,000 as
the lowest limit which must be reached.
There was some noble giving, but the
Boston churches unexpectedly failed to
lead the van. The highest return from
Boston was $2OOO from the Old South.
Henry Ward Beecher’s, of Brooklyn,
covers this with $lO,OOO. Dr. Bud
dington’s, of the same city, gave up
wards of $3OOO, and Dr. Thompson’s, of
New York, $4OOO. The Boston papers
of last week had received reports from
only 236, of the 3000 Congregational
churches in the country, and the total of
these returns is $60,536. A few strong
churches, three in Boston included, bad
deferred their collection, but those re
ported embrace the greater number
relied on for heavy figures. The Gon
gregationalist has confidence that the
final aggregate of the effort will not fall
below the $200,000.
Revivals. —We find accounts of re
vivals, of more or less power, going
forward in a number of churches in our
own and other States, few of them be
longing strictly to any denomination, but
shared in by churches of different names.
We make special mention of the work of
the Holy Spirit in Cincinnati, Spring
field, Mass, and Riga, N. Y. The news
still comes in gloriously from Elmira,
N. Y., and several churches in Wash
ington City are enjoying large measures
of the same influence.
Several churches in and around Am
sterdam, N. Y., have arranged to hold a
series of union conventions, for the ex
press purpose of cultivating the revival
spirit. Two of these meetings have
been held. They were, from beginning
to end, increasingly solemn, and the
members returned to their respective
churches, with the feeling paramount
that they must, and they believed they
would, see the salvation of the Lord.
The arrangement, published in our last
week’s paper, for daily joint meetings
of the churches of our connection in this
city, duriDg the present week, as a pre
paration for the week of prayer, is being
carried out. We look for good; “we
beseech thee, O Lord! send prosperity.”
A Call to Wisconsin. —The Pres
byterian Church in Racine, Wisconsin,
has given to Rev. Walter S. Alexander,
of Pomfret, Connecticut, a call to its
pastorate.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1866.
OUR CITY CHURCHES AND THE SEA-
Our Churches are this week observing
.-.the season of united prayer which seems to
ihave settled into a kind of solemn evangeli
cal festival, and which is probably the best
method that could be devised by man for
inaugurating the new year. The programme
was published in our paper of last week.
The meetings commence at four o’clock P.
M. That of Wednesday is announced for
the Western Church, Seventeenth and Fil
bert Streets; that of Thursday, for Button
wood Street Church, below Sixth; and
on Friday, for Calvary Church, Locust
above Fifteenth.
The Sabbath Schools of Clinton
Street Church kept their “ Christmas”
on Tuesday night of last week, in the
Church. The pulpit was tastefully dressed
in evergreen. Many pieces were delight
fully sung by the children, Mr. Mitchell
skilfully presiding at the organ. One of
the pieces sung was a sett off” to that
great favorite with the children, “ I want
to be an Angel,” and contains a stanza
commencing: “ I would not be an Angel,”
the argument being that angels have no
direct share in the work of Christ. We
are told that the one commencing “ I want
to be an Angel,” was first sung in Clinton
Street Church. Spirited addresses were
made by Rene Guillou, Esq., and the pas
tor; Rev. John W. Mears offering prayer.
A most interesting scene was the presenta
tion, by the pastor, in behalf of the super
intendent, B. B. Comegys, Esq., of a hand
some Bible to a girl not over eleven years
old, for bringing six new scholars into the
school. The children were feasted' on ice
cream and cakes, and dismissed at an early
hour. The arrangements were admirably
carried out and the utmost order prevailed.
Rev. Dr. March has received 'a Christmas
gift of $lOOO from his people.
The Southwestern Church, Rev.
John McLeod, pastor, held their annual
festival on Thursday night last. The large
lecture-room was crowded. The brethren
in the ministry were present in goodly
numbers, and were in the best story-telling
vein. Rarely have we seen an audience in
such a perpetual good humor with them
selves and their speakers. The laughter
was of the “ inextinguishable” sort, and yet
the tendency of all that was said was whole
some and edifying. The Southwestern
Church is out of debt, and has means in
hand for the completion of the upper part
of the building, which is rapidly progress-
Rev. J. Y. Mitchell, of Coates Street
Church, has received $5OO from his people,
besides valuable gifts for his family. This
is doing nobly for a church so depleted by
removals, and so disadvantageously located
for the concentration of a Presbyterian
element. We hope the project for a change
of location will be carried into effect during
the year.
The people of Pine Street Church
v
have spent $3OO in newly carpeting the
parlors of their pastor.
Kensington Church has enjoyed a
healthy growth during the pastorate of Mr.
Eva. .New elements have been brought
in of a valuable character, and the com
modious and beautiful ohurch has long
been crowded. It needs but a reasonable
measure of confidence in God and in their
own ability, to start the people upon one of
the most hopeful of new enterprises in that
populous and prosperous section of the city.
Frankford. —The foundations of a large
and handsome chapel, to accommodate five
hundred persous. have been laid in this
section, comparatively bare of churches.
It is expected to be vigorously prosecuted
on the opening of the spring. A distin
guished friend of church extension in our
body, whose country residence is not far
from the place, is connected with the move
ment.
The Buttonwood Street Juvenile
Missionary Society celebrated its twenty
ninth anniversary, Deo. 31. The total col
lections since its organization -'are $2024.
Last year the amount collected was §564.41.
Rev. Dr. Good ell, the venerable missionary
from Turkey, made an interesting address.
Ashamed of their Name. —The Bos
ton Pilot, a paper of the Roman Catho
lic Church, is in bad humor because
people will apply the term Romish to
that Church. It claims for it the exclu
sive use of the term Catholic, a word
.less adapted to that church than
to any other religious organization
in existence. It says of the word
Romish, that it is “un-English,” and
“ offensive to the members of the Catho
lic Church.” Doubtless the word is
sufficiently un-English, and still more
un-American, and so is the hierarchy
which it designates. If a colony from
Japan were to come to our country, de
claring and maintaining their purpose to
preserve their relations to the govern
ment at Yeddo intact through all their
generations, however widely they might
spread themselves over our territory, we
presume, offensive or not offensive, they
would have to bear the name of the
Japanese Society. The Papists of this
country make their highest merit of
preserving their spiritual allegiance to
the see of Rome unbroken, keeping up,
as every one-knows, the full half of a
political allegiance in the same direction.
They must submit to be known by what
they are.
MISSOURI: CHURCH ERECTION—HOME
MISSIONS.
Rev. Timothy Hill, of Kansas City, Mo.,
for twenty years a missionary in that State,
addressed the congregation of North Broad
Street Church last Friday night, on the
great field for missionary effort presented
by Missouri, and made a profound impres
sion upon those who heard him. The vast
resources, the central position, the splendid
commercial advantages of the StateJ and
its advantages as a central highway of over
land emigration, were so presented as to
give it a national eminence in a Home Mis
sionary scheme.
No better agent of the cause could ap
pear before our churches, than a man fresh
from great points of interest, and so tho
roughly alive to the importance of his work
as is Mr. Hill. And the financial importance
of his volunteer agency is seen in this, that 1
if he succeeds in bis Church-building en
terprise in Kansas City, he will immediately
release the Committee of the entire burden
of his support. We doubt whether our
people are more than half awake, not only
to the importance and the necessity, but
also to the promise of most of our Home
Missionary work, in the immediate West.
The Congregationalists are aiming to raise
$250,000 to give away for church building
alone on Home Missionary fields. Why
can’t we have a concerted effort to raise
that “ give away fund,” that was so timidly
inaugurated at the close of the last Assem
bly and that has slept very soundly ever
since ? Chairman Spear! send out your
circulars, and call for a hundred thousand
dollars, as you know how to do it, for this
object. ~
Religious Movements in Cincin
nati. —The Christian Herald of Dee.
14th. says:—“ Most of the churches are
holding daily meetings thiß week. Some
have prayer-meeting during the day and
preaching at night; others preaching at
night; others preaching alternating with
a,yer-meetings, and others prayer
etings only. Rev. Joseph Chester
and Rev. A. L. Aldrich are preaching
from evening to evening to good congre
gations. At the Second Church the
meetings are held at four o’clock P. M.
There has not for a long time been so
general an effort to quicken the piety of
the churches in this city, and we hope
that God will bless it.”
The Herald has also the account of
the public opening of the “ Working
men’s Coffee Room,” under the auspices
of .the Young Men’s Christian Associa
tion. The caracter and design of the
establishment are thus explained by
Rev. Mr. Lee, one of the speakers on
the occasion:—
“ Mr. Lee commenced by quoting the great
Mr. Wesley’s pithy words in reference to
'church music. ‘ That the devil had had the
best of music long enough; it was time the
Church took it out of his hands,’ and why
not take the restaurants out of Satan’s hands
as well, and this effort, now in its infancy, he
hoped to see crowned with complete success.
The reverend gentleman referred to the many
and great temptations to which the young
men and boys composing our working classes
were daily and hourly exposed, and he boldly
announced the determination of the promot
ers of the Coffee Room to fight the battle
manfully in the good cause against those
temptations. The institution situated in the
heart of the manufacturing portion of the
city amidst and among taverns and houses of
entertainment, opened its doors to all who were
willing to accept its hospitality. It l was run
ning in direct opposition to those places, and
he trusted, by God’s blessing, would not fail
to accomplish its righteous end.”
Bishop Whitehouse and the Gales
burg Church. —The Episcopal imbro
glio at Galesburg, Illinois, continues.
It may be recollected by some of our
readers that Grace Church of that city,
some months since, called Rev. Dr. Cra
craft, formerly of the Epiphany, of this
city, to the rectorship. Dr C. before
his institution, or the transfer of his
canonical relations from the diocese of
Ohio, to that of Illinois, while officiating
at Galesburg, fraternized pretty freely
with the non-Episcopal clergy, after the
manner of the Tyneg, and Drs Mueh
lenberg and Canfield, of New York.
This met the feelings of the congregation
of Grace Church, and also th< se of the
Illinoisian Diocesan,Bishop Wbitehouse,
though in a different way. The latter
forbid the vestry ot the church from
allowing him to officiate, and also called
upon his canonical superior, the Ohio
Bishop, Mcllvaine, recall him for a
breach of canons. But as neither the
vestry of Grace, nor the Bishop of Ohio
could see their duty in any such light,
the Illinois prelate resorted to the Con
vention of his diocese, and easily obtain
ed a decree, dropping Grace Church
from its list of churches, until such time'
as it should drop Dr. Cracaft. This the
Church has not seen fit to do. The
vestry have recently passed resolutions
of adherence to all the forms and canons
of the Episcopal Church, protesting
againßt the treatment they have received,
but determining to postpone the instal
lation of the Rector till “ the improved
temper of the Bishop” shall allow him
to accept the letters of Dr. Cracraft.
The partizans of the Bishop have sought
to close the doors of the house, resorting
to extra locks and bolts for the purpose,
but as yet the church have continued to
worship there, and the persecuted min
ister still/officiates.
At the Semi-annual Meeting of the
Board of Trustees of the College <of New
Jersey, held at Princeton on .the 20th
inst., the degree of Doctor of Divinity
was conferred upon the Rev. er
Reed, the pastor of the Central Presby
terian Church of this city.
THE PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SO
CIETY.
The Pastoral Association of the min
isters of the New School branch of the
Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, at
a recent meeting, adopted the following
resolutions in regard to the effort this
society is now making to secure a fire
proof building, viz:—
Resolved, As the sense of the Association,
that the effort to secure a fire-proof building,
and a permanent fund, to be appropriated to
the increase of the historical collection, is
one worthy of all praise, and is most heartily
commended to the sympathies and support
of our churches, especially of such wealthy
and liberal members as would esteem it a
privilege to aid an important enterprise.
The Presbytery of Philadelphia (Old
School), also, recently adopted the fol
lowing : ''
Whereas. The Presbyterian Historical So
ciety is in great need of a fire-proof building
for the preservation, and ot a permanent fund
for the increase of its already valuable col
lections.
Resolved, That we cordially recommend
this matter to those of our members who are
able to contribute thereto, as well worthy an
enlightened and generous liberality.
Presbyterial Archives.—A very
good idea has been matured into action
by the Presbytery of Argyle, a New
York State Presbytery of the United
Presbyterian Church. A Presbyterial
book of record is to be kept, in which
shall be recorded a brief history of each
Church in the Presbytery, together with
the names of their several pastors an 1
ruling elders, and such other items as
may be of interest. For the carrying
out of this plan, each pastor, or in defanlt
of a pastor, each session is directed to
fnrnish the Stated Clerk with the re
quisite local material, both for the
commencement and the keeping up of
these individual Church histories. The
preamble to the resolutions inaugurating
the plan, refers to the fact that the early
history of the Churches, and the names
of many who have been office bearers,
are fast passing from the memory of the
living, and that generally they are names
which ought to be held in grateful re
membrance by the present, and trans
mitted to future generations.
The Repeal Agitation in the O.
S. Church. —On the subject of the com
ing effort to obtain from the next Assem
bly a repeal or modification of the whole
some action of last spring, relating to
ministers and ecclesiastical bodies under
the taint of rebellion or pro-slaveryism,
the Presbyterian Banner says that the
Assembly “ will not abandon any position
it has taken, or forsake any principle it
has adopted.” It adds however:—
“ ffo doubt the Assembly will be willing, if
necessary, to pass a resolution explana
tory and declaratory of the late action,
which has been altogether misrepresented,
suchxw will satisfy any reasonable mind.”
People who need any explanation of the
terms of that action, are hopeless of
enlightenment. It is only too unambigu
ous for the dissentients. It is not so.
certain that this can be said of any. ex
planatory and declaratory resolution
.which, under the circumstances, is likely
to he adopted.
- Another “ New Translation.”—
We judge, from the latest spawn of
improvements on our standard English
Bible, that the new translation business,
let alone, will soon run itself into the
ground. For example upon the “ Dia
glot,” --a volume issued by Fowler &
Wells”, which, for a title, emulates the
labels of the perfumers and nostrum
venders. Read in it “ John the Dipper ,
and John the Immerser; “ Give us this
day our necessary food “ Neither do
men light a lamp, and jjut it under a
corn measure, but on a lamp-stand, and
it giveth light to all-who are in the fami
ly.” A little learning may be very use
ful under the management of a tolerable
amount of brains, but when the latter
are wanting, it is decidedly a dangerous
thing.
Politicians Making Public Reli
gious Proeession. —We mentioned re
cently the reception by profession, of ex-
Senator John Bell into the First Presby
terian Church in Nashville, Tenn. We
see it-stated that ex-President Pierce
has quite recently become a communi
cant in the Episcopal church, in Concord,
N. H.; also that ex-President Buchanan
has just been received to membership in
the First Presbyterian church in Lan
caster, in this State. All this is gratify
ing. At the same time it' is, for the
sake of the. young, sad to reflect that
men, with whom a Christian profession
was just as much a duty fifty years ago,
as it now is, and who, under the influ
ence of a holy faith, might have exerted
a somewhat different influence on the
world, could not have graced the years
of their public honors with this testimo
ny for Christ
The Theatre. —Tice has the gift of
making itself very ridiculous. In Chi
cago, Rev. R. M. Hatfield, of the M. E.
Church, has of late been dealing
blows upon the theatre, which have
taken effect. In retaliation, a mock ser
mon, ironically warning young men
against frequenting the play-house, was
gotten up by some sinner, and delivered
on the stage. A reply to Mr. Hatfield
was also prepared, and spoken on the
stage by an actress. And lastly, Rev.
Robert Collier, Unitarian, comes to the
succor with a sermon preached in his
own church, defending the theatre as
capable of being reformed and made
useful, if properly patronised by the
good. Of course, the man is blind to
the teaching of the ages respecting the.
influence of these pest-houses.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDING EDITOR.
CHRISTMAS FESTIVALS.
Since we last wrote, Christmas festivals
have been the order of the day. At various
churches in this city, special efforts were
made to entertain and please the little folks.
The Sabbath-school room of the Central
Church was beautifully festooned with ever
greens. The whole school, and something
more, were in attendance. Every class was
full; every seat occupied. Singing and
speeches ruled the first hour, and eating the
nest. The children did not tell us which
they enjoyed best. They seemed deeply in
terested in both.
At the Brick Church, instead of distribu
ting refreshments in the room, the scholars
received their portion in passing out, in the
shape of nice paper bags filled with cakes and
candies, to be carried to their homes. It
could not have been so much trouble'to clear
up after this gathering, as at the Central,
where cakes and candies must have been
trodden plentifully idto the floor. *
FOREFATHER’S DAT.
At the Plymouth Church they anticipated
Christmas by three days, and called it by an
other name. Or, in other words, with simi
lar festivities and great success, they com
memorated the Landing of the Pilgrims. At
five o’clock the children were assembled in
the church. Among the exercises here was
a pleasant speech by Dr. Daggett, of Canan
daigua, and the presentation of Christmas
offerings, with emblems, by the class, and
remarks by Rev. Mr. Bartlett, the pastor.
Among the emblems brought forward, we
noticed a bust of Lincoln. The class is
called the Lincoln Class; their motto is,
“Dare to do right; dare to be true.” An
other emblem, a full grown musket , brought
forward by a colored boy; class name, “Pro
tection ;” motto, “ Thou art my hiding plafie
and. shield.” The “Excelsior” sent up
stuffed eagle. They set their mark high.
The “Missionary Helpers” had for their
motto, “ Shout the tidings of Salvation,” and
presented a beautiful model of a three-masted
brig. We are sure they have an interest in
the “Morning Star.” We shall expect this
class to furnish, at least, one missionary.
The amount of class collections for the year
was $146; appropriated to various objects
of benevolence. The remarks of the pastor,
as the emblems and cohtributions were
brought forward to the platform, were pecu
liarly appropriate and happy; some of them
quite striking, appropriate and beautiful.
After these public exercises in the ehureh,
tableaux were served with good effect in the
lecture-room, and refreshments to good appe
tites in the Sabbath-school room. Between
.the tableaux, our friend, Rev. B. Bosworth
late of Henrietta, made an excellent speech
upon the character of the Pilgrims. Alto
gether this was a very agreeble entertain
ment, with which all seemed well pleased.
OUR GREAT THOROUGHFARE.
We have become so accustomed to our im
proved modes of travel, that we almost for
get how great the change has been within a
few years. Some who are not yet old men,
can tell us when it took them a good long
week, of hard weary ridiog, by night and by
day, to go from this place to New York.
And some men could tell us, with wry faces,
how often they had to crawl out of the old
stage-coach in the dead of.night, and help
pry the thing out of the mud; or walk over
or through some terrible slough, to lighten
the load, lest the whole should be hopelessly
mired.
But all that has pasjed away. We ride
after another sort now. If the Editor-in-
Chief were in our goodly city, passing a plea
sant afternoon with his happy Correspondent,
and wanted to' be in New York to an early
breakfast next morning, all he has to do is to
walk down to the magnificent station house
of the New York Central Railway, walk into
an elegant sleeping palace at 4 30, take tea
in Syracuse a little after seven, go to bed
when you please, and wake up at six o’clock
next morning in busy Gotham.
One may thus attend to business all day in
this city, all next day in New York, and at
evening take the return train, and be in this
city again next morning. It is thus our mer
chants sometimes spend twelve hours in New
York, and are absent from their stores but
one day to do it. What would the pioneers,
into this wilderness, as it was forty years ago,
have thought of this operation ? And how
would our merchants get along with their
business, if they should .wake up some fine
morning, and find that th'ese railroads had all
dropped out in the night, and the old stage
coaches had come again?
It will be understood that the New York
Central .now runs its ears through from Buf
falo to New York City without change, cross
ing at Troy, and going down the Hudson
River Railway. They have recently put on
some splendid new coaches, marked “New
York, Buffalo and Suspension Bridge.” They
may be seen at Chambers Street in the. even
ing, and in Buffalo the next day at noon; or
in Buffalo in the afternoon, and in New York
early the next morning; distance, feur hun
dred and fifty miles. It is almost a miracle.
1 A GREAT BLESSING AT RIGA.
This country church, about twelve miles
west of this city, was in a depressed condi
tion, and for several months had even been
without the preaching of the Gospel. Last
spring, however, they obtained the services
of Rev. Charles Ruddock, a young man who
had preached for a time at Apulia, and God’s
blessing came with him.
The church at once began to feel the hea
venly impulse, and as a result, the Sabbath
school, which numbered only forty members,
now has one hundred and sixty—increased
four fold; and the church, which had only
forty communicants, was strengthened last
Sabbath by the addition of thirty-seven—
almost doubled at once. To show their good
feeling toward such a pastor, the congrega
tion made v their donation visit on Thursday
or last week, amounting to about one hun
dred and eighty dollars. Well done, for
a little flock.
debt paid.
The Presbyterian Church in Batavia has
recen y been doing the handsome thing,
paying the debt which has huDg over its
house of worship since it was built. We
congratulate the beloved pastor, Rev. C. F.
Mussey, on this pleasing evidence that his
ministry is not in vain in the Lord.
PERSONAL.
The First Presbyterian Church of this city,
have given an unanimous and enthusiastic
call to Rev. Caspar Maurice Wines, a licen
tiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick,
N. J. Mr. Wines is a young man, some three
years out of the Seminary at Princeton,V.nd
a son of Rev. Dr. Wines, of New York City.
He preached to this church for two Sabbaths,
and has excited very great interest. He has
also a call to settle in Newburgh, but the
people here hope that he will kindly regard
their call as the loudest.
Rev. A. L. Benton, of Lima, has declined
the'call recently extended to him by the new
Church in Vineland, N. J. We are glad for
the sake of the Church in Lima, and for many
other precious interests, that Mi - . Benton
has consented to remain where he is._ We
need him in this region. C. P. B.
.Rochester, Dec. 30, 1865.
fto rf mrr ©ljurrfjßi
A Sad Record.—We yield to the
imperative claims of an honest journal
ism, in publishing the following action
of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, in the
case of a hitherto distinguished minister
of our Church. At this distance, we
have no definite information of how ex
treme the public rumor makes the crime
to have been, or of what measure of
guilt was confessed.
“At a meeting of the Presbytery of Cin
cinnati, held Dec. 23, in the Second Presby
terian Church, the following minute was
unanimously adopted, viz:
“ In consequence of reports unfavorable to
the ministerial and Christian character of M.
L. P. Thompson, a member of this body, the
Presbytery immediately proceeded to investi
gate tjie case; and after having prayerfully
and deliberately in several sessions considered
the charges made against the accused, and
for which he was summoned to answer, have
come to the following result, to wit:
“Ist. That no evidence of his own confes
sion of the extreme crime with which he was
charged by rumor appears, but that, on the
contrary, the witnesses to whom said confes
sion was reported to have been made, unani
mously testify that so. far from confessing, he
always and unqualifiedly denied it.
“ 2d. That although no evidence presented
to the Presbytery, or which they are able to
procure, sustains the charge above alluded to,
yet the Presbytery, by his own confession,
find the accused guilty of the sin of impurity.
“3d. That they also find him guilty of
falsehood and deception in the statement
made to the Presbytery at the time he asked
for a dissolution of his pastoral relation.
, “ 4th. That, notwithstanding the professed
and apparently unfeigned penitence of the
accused, the Presbytery, in view of conduct
so highly culpable in its own nature, and so
palpably inconsistent with his ordination
vows, and with the purity required by the
Christian profession, do solemnly suspend
the said M. L. P. Thompson from the Gospel
ministry, earnestly exhorting him to true and
deep repentance, (and to fruits meet fpr the
same.
“ A true extract from the records of Pres
bytery.
“ Attest
G. W. Maxwell, Moderator.
J. Chester, Stated Clerk.
Cincinnati, Dec. 23.”
The Christian Herald closes some
well-expressed thoughts on the subject
of this afflictive event, with the following
very just reflections:—
“ The outcry of the world when a minister
of the Gospel falls does not show that minis
ters, as a class, are corrupt, but the contrary.
Who ever heard of an uproar when an actor,
an infidel, or a bar-room: politician was guilty
of licentious conduct ? The gusto with which
wicked men roll a bit of scandal about a
clergyman like a sweet morsel under their
tongues, shows that it is a rare luxury. If
they could get such morsels oftener, they
would not prize them so highly.
“ Finally, all such cases, instead of leading
Christians to discouragement, should stir
them up to greater watchfulness, prayerful
ness and charity. “ Let him that thinketh
he standeth, take heed lest he fall. ” “If any
man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness. ‘ Forgive and ye shall be for
given.’”
The Presbytery op Steuben. —The
winter session of this Presbytery was
held in Addison on the second Tuesday
of -December. *
Addison is a very thriving village of
some two thousand inhabitants, on the
Erie Railroad, twelve miles west of
Corning. The principal dwellings are
on a beautiful rise of ground east of the
railroad. On the main street are two
public squares, around one of which are
the Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Baptist
churches, and the Academy.
The Presbyterian church is not very
strong, and is now without a pastor;
but is enjoying in some degree the spe
cial influences of the Spirit—a faithful
elder, Mr. Gillette, endeavoring to lead
on the church to seek God’s face and
favor. '
In the absence of the last Moderator,
Rev. L. F. Laine, of Canisteo, preached
the opening sermon from the text, “I
am the Good Shepherd.” There were
present eight ministers and ten laymen.
Mr. A. L. Green, a licentiate of this
body, and formerly a member of a Con
gregational Association, after a satisfac
tory examination, was ordained as an
evangelist. Rev. Dr. Gregory, of Pratts
burg, preached the ordination sermon,
and Rev. W. A. Niles, of Corning, gave
the charge. Mr. Niles also preached n
sermon on Wednesday evening.
The subject of home evangelization
was discussed, and considerable interest
was awakened on the subject. Incipi
ent measures were adopted for employ'
ing a Presbyterian missionary.
Reports from the churches indicated
a healthy, prosperous, and harmonious
state of the churches. There is evident
growth; but in only two of our churches
have there been revivals within the year
—Canisteo and Pultney. As a result,
twelve individuals united with each of
these churches. Our Sabbath-schools